Martina Navratilova joins $1 billion-worth JK Rowling in denouncing US lawmaker's response to sexual assault by a male in women's prison

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has endorsed author J.K. Rowling's criticism of a US lawmaker's focus on transgender rights over women's safety in prisons. Navratilova's endorsement has sparked a heated debate on the balance between transgender rights and women's safety.

Navratilova, who came out as a lesbian in 1981, has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, while Rowling, the billionaire author of Harry Potter (as per celebritynetworth.com), has sparked controversy with her views on gender identity.

Both have faced backlash for their stances, with Navratilova challenging transgender women in sports over fairness and Rowling criticized for alleged anti-transgender remarks.

The controversy erupted on January 11, 2024, when US politician Beth Daranciang shared a video on X confronting a lawmaker about allegations of a transgender inmate, Christopher Scott Williams, assaulting cellmate Mozzy Clark in a Washington State women’s prison.

Instead of addressing the claims, the lawmaker emphasized supporting transgender inmates' rights, prompting Rowling to criticize her for prioritizing the offender's feelings over the crime. Rowling wrote:

"You think you've heard the last word in callous, self-serving, reality-defying luxury beliefs, but then a female legislator responds to a question about a male sexual assault by saying how proud she is of the measures taken to make sure the sex offender's feelings aren't hurt."

Navratilova reshared Rowling's response on social media, endorsing the author's views, writing:

"Exactly."

The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion criticized the audience for applauding, highlighting disregard for assault victims in women’s prisons, writing:

"Wtaf??? And the people who clapped??? So this woman is proud that photos of incarcerated women won’t get onto the internet but she has no comment on these same women being assaulted or raped by male bodies in women’s prisons??? Beyond stupid and irresponsible."

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Martina Navratilova backs J.K. Rowling’s stand on protecting women’s spaces

Martina Navratilova during the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards press conference (Image source: Getty)

Martina Navratilova supported J.K. Rowling’s stance against allowing men in women’s spaces amid U.S. debates on transgender women using women’s restrooms.

The issue intensified when Representative Nancy Mace proposed a ban on transgender women using the U.S. Capitol's restrooms. Responding to an X (formerly Twitter) user questioning this policy, Rowling sarcastically dismissed the idea, writing:

"Zero. However, there's certainly a benefit to simpering that you're completely fine with it, can't see what the issue is and calling women who disagree fascists, or we wouldn't be seeing so many wealthy, famous, protected women throwing vulnerable women under the bus."

Martina Navratilova retweeted Rowling's message, publicly expressing her alignment with the author's views on protecting women’s spaces.